No. 212.
Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Paris, December 26, 1874.
(Received Jan. 20, 1875.)
No. 1074.]
Sir: There is no probability that Congress will
ever act on the question of permitting the acceptance of certain
testimonials proposed by the German government in recognition of services
rendered by our diplomatic and consular officers in France during the
Franco-German war. I have, therefore, written to Prince Hohenlohe, the
German ambassador at Paris, the letter on this subject, of which I have the
honor to inclose you a copy herewith.
Had the proposed testimonial to me been in the form of a portrait of the
Emperor, or a vase, as Mr. Bancroft had suggested, and if Congress had upon
consideration of the subject given the permission, I would have regarded it
as implying a direction that I should accept it. But I could never, under
any circumstances, receive what might have been deemed a “decoration.”
As Congress has not given any permission in this matter enabling me to
receive a testimonial while in office, I should of course refuse to receive
any such testimonial after I should go out of office.
I have, &c.,
P. S.—Since writing the above I have received from the Prince Hohenlohe a
reply to my letter of the 26th instant, a copy of which I beg leave to
inclose herewith.
[Page 454]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 1074.]
Mr. Washburne to
Prince Hohenlohe.
Legation of the United States,
Paris, December 26,
1874.
My Dear Colleague: As the Congress of the
United States has not given permission to its diplomatic and consular
officers in France to receive certain recognitions from the German
government for services rendered by them during the late war between
France and Germany, it is proper to say that it will not be possible for
me at present, or any future time, to receive any testimonial which your
gracious sovereign might desire to present to me. I could not possibly
receive anything more precious to me than the appreciation of what I was
enabled to do by the German government, and the thanks of the Emperor,
conveyed to me in the most generous and graceful terms by the Prince de
Bismarck, and which will ever be most gratefully cherished.
Believe me, &c.,
S. A. M. le Prince de Hohenlohe
Schillingsfürst,
German Ambassador,
Paris.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 1074.]
Prince Hohenlohe to
Mr. Washburne.
Ambassade Impériale d’Allemagne en France,
Paris, December 27, 1874.
My Dear Colleague: While I sincerely regret the
information conveyed by your letter, I hasten to thank you for having so
justly interpreted the grateful feelings of my sovereign. His Majesty
would have wished that a visible sign of his gratitude might have
recalled to the recollection of your descendants the services rendered
by you to my countrymen in time of need.
Believe me, &c.,
